Archive for the ‘Fundamentalism’ Category

Some people lately seem to be forgetting one of the most important concepts in Discordianism, The Pentabarf. It was designed to discourage Fundamentalism, but some people are not studying it closely enough. Let’s look at it again.

I – There is no Goddess but Goddess and She is Your Goddess. There is no Erisian Movement but The Erisian Movement and it is The Erisian Movement. And every Golden Apple Corps is the beloved home of a Golden Worm.

II – A Discordian Shall Always use the Official Discordian Document Numbering System.

III – A Discordian is Required during his early Illumination to Go Off Alone & Partake Joyously of a Hot Dog on a Friday; this Devotive Ceremony to Remonstrate against the popular Paganisms of the Day: of Catholic Christendom (no meat on Friday), of Judaism (no meat of Pork), of Hindic Peoples (no meat of Beef), of Buddhists (no meat of animal), and of Discordians (no Hot Dog Buns).

IV – A Discordian shall Partake of No Hot Dog Buns, for Such was the Solace of Our Goddess when She was Confronted with The Original Snub.

I can’t decide whether its completely refreshing, or utterly depressing.

I had always thought of the pagan community as being somehow more on the ball than the run-of-the-mill ‘average’ community, I suppose since they have decided to live on the outskirts of what is considered ‘normal’ in our Western world I always felt a sort of a kinship with them, as I do with all outsiders, rebels, and underdogs . . . I guess its the oral aspect of my nature.

Recently, however, I have been forced to the conclusion that not only is the Pagan Community no less rigid and ruled than the average religions, but possibly more so. If the only fundie you’ve come across is Christian, let me tell you that you haven’t truly encountered a fundie to the full extent yet . . . a pagan fundie is an entirely different can of worms. They will tell you that they respect all pagan religions but, of course, that is never true. If your form of paganism is based around a god or goddess who doesn’t jive with what they consider pagan you had better watch out, because they can turn right-wing religious fundamental on you in the length of time it takes to snap down a tarot card.

My experience of late is based on my time on a prominent Pagan message board, and despite the fact that Discordianism was discovered, invented, or revived in the late 1950’s (depending on which story you believe), WELL WELL WELL before paganism was embraced and revived in the 1970s and 1980s it holds little to no respect with the absolutely average pagan.

It just goes to show what I get for making sweeping assumptions about entire groups. Which, of course, I am doing again right now, I’m not unaware of the fact . . . and of course even what I’m saying now isn’t entirely the truth, just an aspect of it, but it is my subjective opinion at the moment and I am going with it.

It is only now that I can say I fully understand the adage that a ‘cynic is only a wounded optimist’, because brother, I took it in the eye, and it is sticky and I don’t like it.

Do I have a point, my brothers and sisters? I suppose my point is “Walk softly, carry a big stick, trust nobody, and wear a hardhat – just in case.”